Iconic County Sligo hall in dire need of repairs
Outside of show time, this unassuming building plays a thriving and central role in the local community, and has done so for over a hundred years. Aleck Crichton recalled how his grandmother, Olga, helped to make it a centre point of the community, both through the annual show, and also by her diligent promotion of the ICA (Originally the Society of United Irishwomen). Olga was also a noted activist for women's rights, especially votes for women.
Apart from The Beltra Show, the Hall was consistently used for dances, amateur dramatics (in the 1930s attracting actors and patrons from the Abbey Theatre in Dublin), concerts and children's dance lessons. It was also used by the VEC in the 50s and 60s for training courses.
In recent years the Hall's activities have widened even further. Apart from the ICA these include Beltra's weekly Country Market (founded 2010), Tireragh Scout Group, the Ladies Brae Women's Group, Men's Group, Christmas celebrations connected with Christ Church's Carol Service, the Feis and other activities, cementing its importance as an important community hub.
The increased activity of recent years has greatly helped with the Hall's upkeep, maintenance and preservation, including tarmacking the carpark, redecorating the kitchen/tearoom, replacing windows, upgrading basins and providing hot water in the loo cubicles, and, most recently, laying a new floor in the main hall.
The committee has received modest grants for a few of these projects, and are enormously grateful for the willing local volunteers who have come forward to carry out some of this work.
The Hall is now in desperate need of a new roof. The leaks are damaging the fabric of the building. Several applications for a Historic Buildings Grant (the Hall is a Protected Structure) have finally yielded results, but only for less than half the estimated cost of €30,000.
The local community has already raised just under €15,000.Naomi McBride, chairperson of the Beltra Country Market told The Sligo Champion:
'We use the hall every Saturday morning and apart from our members, the hall is our greatest asset. It's so warm and welcoming and lovely. It is a beautiful pitch-pine lined hall and it brings a smile to people's faces when they come in and we are so lucky to have it. It is unique, it's historic and it was built in 1905 which means it is now 120 years old.'
'Water is seeping down the walls and causing damp, and it is leaking like a sieve. Our aim is to make the roof solid for this year, and it has to be done before the Beltra Show which is on the first Saturday in September.'
Naomi said that work on repairing the roof will start on June 24.
'We have it all scheduled and we have a heritage building contractor doing the work so the character of the hall will be kept and to a high standard. The material in the roof is corrugated iron and it is one of the last structures of its kind in the country. So, it is really important, and it is a protected structure and is of historical importance as well as great importance to the community in the area.
'The Crichton family built it, and it has been in community use ever since and never more so than now.
'It is for all the community, and it is so noticeable when you drive along the N 59 to see this beautiful red building in the clearing.
Naomi added that the hall had also hosted plays and dances in the pastt. 'But in the last 15 years since the Market started, we have had a re-birth and now we have the Tireragh Scouts which is a new group that was formed a few years ago.
'There are currently Yoga classes, and we had dancing classes a few years ago so it is thriving. And there are so many families in the area whose association with the hall goes back for generations and it is really the beating heart of the community.
'It holds a very warm place in people's hearts. In 2011, Mary McAleese, then President of Ireland, wrote a letter congratulating the Show on its centenary year.'
'Many thanks to all those who have so generously donated their time and expertise over the years. We want The Beltra Agricultural Show, Beltra Country Market, amateur dramatics, Scouts, dancing, concerts, men's and women's groups and lots of other activities to be centred here for the next generation and beyond.'
'Beltra Hall needs the public's help make up the shortfall in our roof fund. Please help if you can. Donations of any size are welcome.
'We will be raffling hampers in SuperValu, Ballysadare on Friday 13th June, and there will be a fundraising entertainment evening, 'Raise the Roof' in the Hall on Friday 20th June at 7.30pm.' Donation buckets are now in Collery's Shop Beltra, and Beltra Post Office.
For more information on how you can donate by cheque or on line, get tickets for 'Raise the Roof' or otherwise help, please contact Audrie Kee on 086 6069063 or Beltra Post Office 071 91 66601.'
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